The OPC UA (Open Platform CommunicationsUnified Architecture) technology is found in many industrial applications as it addresses many of Industry 4.0’s requirements. One of its appeals is its service-oriented architecture. Nonetheless, it requires engineering efforts during deployment and maintenance o bind or associates the correct services to a client or consumer system. We propose the integration of OPC UA with the Eclipse Arrowhead Framework (EAF) to enable automatic service discovery and binding at runtime, reducing delays, costs, and errors. The integration also enables the client system to get the service endpoints by querying the service attributes or metadata. Moreover, this forms a bridge to other industrial communication technologies such as Modbus TCP (TransmissionControl Protocol) as the framework is not limited to a specific protocol. To demonstrate the idea, an indexed line with an industrial PLC (programmable logic controller) with an OPCUA server is used to show that the desired services endpoints are revealed at runtime when querying their descriptive attributes or metadata through the EAF’s Orchestrator system.

Today’s manufacturing industries use a large suite of protocols and technologies to operate heterogeneous devices and software modules. Some of the most widely used technologies in industrial production are OPC UA (Open Platform CommunicationsUnified Architecture) and ROS (Robot Operating System). Hence, enabling interoperability across these technologies is critical to ensure a smooth production flow. We propose a local cloud-based approach to achieve interoperability between ROSand OPC UA by integrating them with the Eclipse ArrowheadFramework. This integration allows these technologies to operate as independent systems while communicating securely at runtime. In addition to achieving interoperability, this integration supports important industrial aspects such as loose coupling, late binding, and cyber-security, making it a flexible solution.

The fourth and fifth industrial revolutions (Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0) have driven significant advances in digitalization and integration of advanced technologies, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions. Smart Energy Systems (SESs) have emerged as crucial tools for addressing climate change, integrating smart grids and smart homes/buildings to improve energy infrastructure. To achieve a robust and sustainable SES, stakeholders must collaborate efficiently through an energy management framework based on the Internet of Things (IoT). Demand Response (DR) is key to balancing energy demands and costs. This research proposes an edge-based automation cloud solution, utilizing Eclipse Arrowhead local clouds, which are based on Service-Oriented Architecture that promotes the integration of stakeholders. This novel solution guarantees secure, low-latency communication among various smart home and industrial IoT technologies. The study also introduces a theoretical framework that employs AI at the edge to create environment profiles for smart buildings, optimizing DR and ensuring human comfort. By focusing on room-level optimization, the research aims to improve the overall efficiency of SESs and foster sustainable energy practices.